The Indianapolis Colts could barely contain their excitement after selecting quarterback Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft Thursday night in Kansas City, Mo.
The Florida product has an extremely high ceiling and boasts a skill set that is a perfect fit for the offense being run by new head coach Shane Steichen. He will have a long road of development ahead, but the Colts finally took a swing on a franchise prospect.
Here are 10 things to know about the Colts’ new quarterback:
1
Gainsville native
Richardson was born and raised in Miami, FL, but moved to Gainesville when he was 13 years old. He attended Professional Academies Magnet at Lofton High School but because they didn’t have an athletic program, Richardson was allowed to play sports at Eastside High School.
2
Netlfix documentary
During Richardson’s senior season at Eastside High School, he was featured on the Netflix documentary “QB1: Beyond the Lights” along with No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. Unfortunately, the season never aired due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Netflix canceled the series.
3
Historic athlete
Part of Richardson’s allure is his elite athleticism. In fact, we may have never seen a quarterback this athletic in the history of the game. At 6-foot-4 and 244 pounds, Richardson ran a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash to go along with a quarterback-record 40.5-inch vertical jump at the NFL combine.
4
Still 20 years old
Richardson won’t turn 21 years old until the middle of May, which is another promising aspect of his long-term potential as the franchise quarterback
5
History in the Black community
With Bryce Young (No. 1), C.J. Stroud (No. 2), and Anthony Richardson (No. 4), it’s the first time in NFL history that three Black quarterbacks have been selected inside the top 10.
6
Reps are needed
Richardson has just 13 starts and 393 pass attempts under his belt at the collegiate level. He elected to skip the final two years of his college career, leaving the Florida Gators as a redshirt sophomore.
7
Was the Colts' target all along
General manager Chris Ballard said head coach Shane Steichen called him about two weeks after the latter was hired raving about Richardson’s upside. He told reporters Thursday night after the selection was made that they knew Richardson was their target “a month ago.”
"Shane Steichen called me after two weeks on the job and said there's not many guys that can do what Anthony Richardson can do"#PMSDraftSpectacular pic.twitter.com/nmgQVcMXKd
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 28, 2023
8
Had multiple big offers
Though Richardson committed, de-committed and re-committed to Florida during his collegiate recruiting process, he also received offers from Georgia, Penn State, Louisville, Michigan, Boston Colleg and Virginia Tech, to name a few, according to 247Sports.
9
No timetable on starts
Richardson needs time to develop, but the Colts also know the only way he’s going to get better is to get on the field and play. Still, there’s no timetable when Richardson will be handed the keys to the offense, and the Colts aren’t going to rush the process just to do so.
10
Players Tribune article
Two weeks before the draft, Richardson penned a moving article in the Players’ Tribune, an outlet that gives athletes the chance to speak their mind to fans without the conduit of the national media. It’s an incredible piece that details Richardson’s life, the influences of his Uncle Tanka and what NFL teams (now the Colts) will be getting in him.
We occasionally recommend interesting products, services, and gaming opportunities. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Colts Wire operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
